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My transition from high school to college was not easy. As a low mid "A" student I went into College thinking it'll be just like high school. I'll pay attention to the instructor and then enjoy the rest of my day doing whatever. When college finally set in "boy was I in for a rude awakening"! As I learned how to study, bond with professors, and live life like it was my last day, I started to appreciate the small things. College has shown me that while some tasks are easier than others all are fundamentals in the process of one?s development mentally, socially, and physically. I have learned that while life, school, family, and work may seem very slow and exaggerated at times its key to cherish every single moment, because you'll only get one. College has brought me into the real world, where your wonderful life, could be turned upside down because one decides to make a careless decision. So prepare for the best, hope for the best and tomorrow will be a better day!! Thanks for Listening, Tonya

For me, it was all about making the best out of the experience as possible. I took what I could from every class, and I chased after the networks that I believe will help me after graduation. I'm involved with the Wexner Center for the Arts and the OSU Urban Arts Space, and I have pursued my dream of writing by completing several fiction writing workshops with renowned professors and an independent study in a novel I am writing. So for me, yes, it has been valuable to attend, but it really is only what you make it at OSU. There is a lot that goes on that people get lost in, and the faculty will not chase you down if you don't show up for class.

I have learned the importance of community and coming together to make a difference. I attended undergrad and now I am in graduate school here and there is a strong sense of pride both from myself and my fellow classmates for OSU. I have learned when you believe in something and have a personal vested interested a real difference can be made. I am getting my masters in social work and there is an overwhelming drive I see in everyone in the program to do good in the world and to advocate for the poor and underpriveldged. College has shown me that even a small group of five people can go to a homeless shelter and spend just a few hours there, but that a difference could be made, even if just in one person's life. College is about coming together with diverse people who share a common goal, it's a place to find out who you are and what you can do for society. Without the education, friends, and sense of belonging to the OSU community I do not know where I would be today. I hope to give back what they have given me.

In attending college one the most valuable lessons I've learned is management. Whether concerning time management or that of my finances, attending college has taught me to become independent and a manager of my life. This lesson will is the most important I've had so far, because it is one of the few that applies to every aspect of life and always will.

So far, the greatest gain I have gotten from my personal college expierence is the sense of maturity. I have grown to become a responsible person out of necessity. It is up to me and only me to make sure that I succeed, and think that kind of self sufficiency is the most important quality a person can have to succeed. Ohio State treats all of the students as the adults they need to be and the pay off is a group of bright and well prepared students graduating each year. The skills I have learned already will surely benefit me for the rest of my life.

I have gotten from my college experience a real sense of how insignificant I am in the grand scheme of things. Being selfish, being narrow-minded, being scared - those traits will not fare well in this new world where everything rapidly changes and everyone is so different. I valued attending college because I was able to see the world beyond my doorstep. Being first-generation, college can be scary. You are faced with people who don't look like you and people who come from different socioeconomic backgrounds. But my college experience showed me that we were all essentially the same - small fishes in a big pond, and that we needed to work together to ensure the success of one another. I was a singular person before college, and now I am part of something much larger, much more significant than anything I could have accomplished on my own. That is what college can do for everyone who allows the experience to move, inspire, and perhaps even change them.

As a student of The Ohio State University, I believe, without a doubt, that attending this university, college, and school is the best and most important decision I have made or will ever make in my life. I plan on striving every day to quite literally make the world a better place for us and our children to inhabit through natural resources remediation and rehabilitation. Without the opportunities and pathways presented by such an institution of higher learning, I would never be able to wholly fulfill my potential as a student. Even in the first few months on campus, you begin to feel fully enveloped in a realm of possibility unlike any other. Breeding not only independence and self reliance, but also the thirst for academia and drive towards bigger and better things.

I started college straight out of high school in 1989. A long time ago right? I was not a "serious" student at that time. I did not realize how important a college degree would be for me. I am at the point in my life where I can be the type of student I want to be. I firmly believe I will be a success this time. I am a full time Indian Education tutor at an elementary school. I love teaching kids. It is what I was made to do! I am going to finish this time and become a certified classroom teacher! Education is extremely important. I try to instill that in my students and other young people I know. I want to be an example for my own son and show him it is easier to do it the first time around, but never to late!

From my college experience, I had learnt in general to think positively. I grew up in Nigeria where I was one of the opportuned. Life in Lagos was a living disaster and I ever since I came to America, I realised that Education has a lot to offer than any other thing in life. I have learnt that all other things can be taken from you except for your knowledge gained. Attending college has made me a stronger person, it has opened so many doors for me in life which I thought I would never see. College has thought me that life is not a bed of roses that even if others are putting their heads in fire, I shouldn't do that because I am educated and very well aware of the consequences. I can say I have become a smater and very well intellectual person through my college experience. Knowing I was never born with a silver spoon makes me feel destined to have a silver spoon in future and I definately think for my goal to be achieved, I need education because it is the key to all doors of success.

I have learned a lot about myself in the journey toward education. Some of which I learned from classes, but mostly from the people I met along the way. The college experience takes you out of your comfort zone and allows you to see life from new perspectives. I made friends from many different backgrounds and the diversity of cultures has reshaped my view of the world. The overwhelming amount of information made availble in classes leave one with a lump of clay, in which you can then discover what role you play in the drama of life. Each choice we make defines us, little by little, and for me that started with the college I chose and the people I befriended.

I have only been in college for about four months and I can already say that it has been a completely worthwhile decision. Since I have been at the Ohio State University I have learned more about myself than I ever have. I have learned to step out of my former "comfort zone," where my parents did things for me all the time. I have learned to be persistent and proactive when it comes to reaching my goals. I have learned incredible time management skills and have aquired a strong motivation to do my absolute best when it comes to my studies, knowing that this is what will count for the rest of my life. In addition to academics, I have met some of the best friends I think I will ever have. Giving into peer pressure is a major issue in college, but I have found friends that share my same morals and values who wish to gain the same experience as I do throughout their college career. This has been more than beneficial because these are important strides one must make before they can expect to make it in the real world on their own.

College has opened so many doors for me. I came to school thinking I had my life all planned out. I was going to major in aerospace engineering like my dad and be an astronaut. Once I started school, I found so many interesting opportunites and classes, that I couldn't resist taking some. I have changed my major and my life plans countless times. I have learned about myself and what I like to do. I have explored some interests that I never would have had a chance to anywhere else. I am meeting other students and professors who share my interests and passions for a multitude of things. Not to mention college has taught me to be more independent. It has taught me about the kind of person I want to be and the ways in which I want to live my life. College has had a huge role in shaping me into the person I am today, and will continue to influence me until I graduate and beyond.

If I could talk to myself as a high school senior, I would say to organize my time well, but to also be eager to make more social interactions. While I still have the time to do this now, the first quarter was a rougher for me because I did not heed these words. Since the first quarter, I have learned how to better manage my time by setting aside one hour for each class everyday to work on homework and study the material. Unlike high school, college goes over a much tougher and more frequent load of informmation that is impossible to cram into one or two days before a final, mdterm, or even a quiz. Also, while studying and working hard are good keys to success, being with friends and meeting new people is also very important. Being with friends helps me to unwind and relax from all the schoolwork and to have fun at the same time. The more people you meet, the more connections you have to take advantage of later in life, too, especially with professors that can help you to know material and also help refer you in applications for jobs and future schooling.

You know, Thomas, you have spent an extroardinary amount of time reading textbooks and writing "perfect papers." Your efforts, although commendable, are not necessary. Sure its important to have a high GPA but during the application process you are competing against yourself, not the top 50 from your school. There are no winners in the game of life, after all. So really, sit back and enjoy the ride. College is all about the experience. You won't need the Fundamental Theorum of Calculus to explain why you stay out to two in the morning debating politics. And the MLA format is only useful when you are taking an English class. What really matters is making friends and finding connections. Recruiters look more at internships, which by the way can be quite fun, more than GPA. The journey begins, so go.

Kyla, I know you are worried about the size of OSU, but don?t be. The size is what is going to give you so many opportunities over the next four years. When you decide you don't like your initial major the size is what enables you to find the right one with so many to choose from. Also it really does not seem that large once you find the right friends, which you find on your freshman floor. Remember to call home often because you are the first to leave and don?t forget about your high school friends either, which is hard to do sometimes while you make lives separate from each other. Don't worry about the food, it is way better than it seems and you will miss it once you leave campus housing, which reminds me you may want to take some cooking classes if you can. The four years will go by fast so enjoy them as much as you can.

One of the first things I would tell myself is that college is not as intimidating as it seems. It's not always easy, but nothing worth going for ever is. In High School you have a pre determined set of classes that you have to take. In college you have the liberty to choose classes that interest you. College sounds expensive, and to some, completely unaffordable; but there are many ways to get money to pay for your education. If you study what you enjoy, you will do well. If you do well, you will raise your G.P.A. Raise your G.P.A, and you can get scholarships to pay for school. In these tough times it's easy to want to choose work over school; but choosing to go to college gives you so much more. Despite the challenges, you will learn more than you could ever imagine; about the things you care about. You will make friends that will last forever, join clubs and meet people just like you. College is a whole new world; but a wonderful one. When you here people say "It was the best time of my life" they're right.

As I look back on my Senior Year, I ponder the things I could have done to somehow better equip myself for college life. Every time I am asked this question, my thoughts return to one thing: self-discipline. If I could advise myself to improve one aspect of my life, I would focus on discipline. Unlike my high school years, in college, time is abundant. The biggest struggle is to fill that time with beneficial and meaningful activities. I would advise the high school senior version of me to begin making a weekly schedule and to be more organized. This would diminish the amount of time wasted on Facebook or playing videogames and increase motivation to study or be involved, because I would have already developed a sense of discipline as a senior in high school.

If I could go back in time, I would tell high school senior Cameron not to sell himself short. After being rejected from Northwestern and not being able to afford George Washington University, I was very depressed for a few weeks. I would tell myself to keep my chin up, look for other options, and make the best out of what I have been given. I would tell myself to be proud of my accomplishments and that the grass is always greener on the other side.

College will be the best time of your life. You will discover so much about who you and what you really want to do with your llife. Your family and friends will always be there and will listen no matter how many times you question what direction you want to take in your life decisions. Transitioning to college will be a little rough, but don't panic and don't stress to much. Stressing out will only make matters worse. Don't be afraid to join new groups and meet new people, even if you are the only one you know there. Joining new organizations allows you to make life long friendships with memories that will never be forgotten. Being part of something new allows you to feel more comfortable with who you are. When it comes to classes, if you cannot understand a professor or material, get help! Do not be afraid to email teachers or go to office hours. The teachers will not bite and are very helpful if you ask. Also, do not be afraid to ask questions or speak up in classes, even if you have the wrong answer. It is a great learning experience.

The first thing I would tell my self is to slow down and take your time. There is no rush to finish school. Scince I know that I will be alive, I would encourage myself to go to college and live in the dorms. Maybe even think about going to school abroad. Learn to speak as many languages as you can. Just don't limit your self. If there is something that interest you, go for it. Just do it. I would make sure that I kept up with the latest technology as well. I guess the most important thing that i would tell myself is that, a high school diploma is not going to get you a good paying job. If you don't have a well respected college degree, you may not make it. Where I came from everyone form 8-80 works at Mc Donald's just to make ends meet, college degree or not. Times are tough. So pick a career you like and want to stay with for many years because you may not get another chance.